Electric calf weaner



Nov. 8, 1955 M. s. LINDSTROM arm. 2,722,912

ELECTRIC CALF WEANER Filed June 18, 1954 Merrill 8. Lina'sfrom Stanley J. Momange INVENTORS.

2,722,912 ELECTRICCALF WEANER Merrill S. Lindstrom and Stanley J. Montange, Holstein, Iowa Application June 18, 1954, Serial No. 437,624

1 Claim. (Cl. 119-130) The present invention relates, generally speaking, to calf weaners, and has more particular reference to one which produces an electric shock, the calf being, in turn, subjected to the shock, and this being attained when the calf exerts expected pressure against the udder of the mother cow.

The obvious object of the invention is to assist and materially aid farmers, particularly dairy farmers, to wean calves away from their mothers in as short a space of time as is reasonably possible, and with a minimum of effort and difiiculties ordinarily attending this sort of task.

In reducing to practice a preferred embodiment of the invention, the weaning device is said to be electric in type or character, and it can be Worn by the calf for as long a time as is necessary to wean him without detriment to the calf. That is to say, the calf may graze, drink or eat grain without interference from the weaning device. When, however, the calf attempts to feed himself as was done, prior to the weaning stage, he then receives repeated electric shocks which, in time, bring about the desired weaning result, and this without difliculty to the mother cow.

Briefly summarized, the preferred embodiment of the invention has to do with a prong which comes into contact with a part of the face or nose of the calf under certain predetermined conditions, said prong being being electrified by way of a source of electricity which is brought into play by a pressure operated circuit make and break device or switch, that is, another prong complemental to the first prong and which, when the calf attempts to obtain access to the cows udder, sufiicient pressure is brought to bear to render both prongs effective in bringing about the desired electric shock and, ultimately, the weaning step.

In carrying out a preferred embodiment of the invention, a suitably capped casing, similar to that of a flashlight, is mounted on a foundation plate. The plate is light metal and is bent or shaped to form an adapter which fits in a shield-like manner over the bridge of the nose of the calf to bring the aforementioned prongs into desired operative positions. Simple chain means or the like serves to hold the plate or shield in the desired normally out-ofthe-way position.

It is an object of the invention to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon similarly constructed and performing prior art weaners and, in doing so, to provide a construction in which manufacturers, retailers, farmers and others will find their respective requirements and needs effectually taken into account and met.

Then, too, and in general, it is an objective to improve upon and reduce the number of parts entering into the combination, thereby not only increasing the efficiency of the structure as a whole, but also, rendering the construction less costly to manufacture and to otherwise simplify essential factors of assembling, sale, repair, etc.

Other objects, features and advantages will become 2,722,912 Ce l atented Nov. 8, v1955 more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention, and showing the manner in which it is applied in readiness for use;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the same; q

Figure 3 is a perspective view, based on Figure 2, and observing what may be called the underneath or bottom side of the weaner; and

Figure 4 is a diagram of the electrical circuit and complements employed in the electric charge shock producing device. v

The adapter or holder in the construction under consideration is a simple semi-circular light weight metal plate, and this is denoted by the numeral 6 and is approximately one foot in length and approximately six inches in width, and it fits as a sort of a shield over the bridge of the nose of the wearer, the calf seen in Figure 1. At the forward lower corner portions are keyholeshaped slots 8-8 for slidably receiving and also optionally locking the links of the attaching and retaining chain. This chain may be said to include a chin embracing chain portion 10 and free end portions 1212 which are taken up over the head and around the neck and suitably fastened together in any desirable manner (not detailed) forming a sort of simple attaching halter for positioning and holding the plate in the manner illustrated.

Mounted atop the central or crown portion of the shield-like plate is the electrical means or device for turning the desired shock off and on, if and when the calf makes an attempt to feed from the mothers udder. The device may be of some other construction, but it here takes the form of a simple cylinder or casing 14 which is fixedly mounted and which is closed at the end 15, and has a removable closing cap 16 at the other end. The means in this cylinder for inducing the current and energizing the aforementioned prong means is shown generally in Figure 4 diagrammatically. Here, there is an ordinary flashlight battery 18, a coil 20 connected thereto by a wire 21 with another wire 22 extending from the battery and connecting with a contact 24. The complemental contact 26 is connected with the coil-equipped wire which also includes a relatively fixed or stationary prong 28. This prong extends through an opening in the crown portion of the shield, as shown in Figure 3, where it is adapted to come into contact with the nose of the calf when pressure is exerted against the casing 14 and the plate 6, in an obvious manner. The second make and break device or switch comprises not only the contacts 24 and 26, but a relatively movable complemental prong 30 having a movable contact element or disk 32 which bridges the contacts. This circuit make and break prong could be spring actuated, or it may simply be gravity operated by being longer than the prong 28. The two prongs are therefore in associated relationship, and when the plate is harnessed on the calfs nose, the device is set for use.

The electric weaner is used by placing the face plate 6 over the calfs nose and securing it in place by the chain, as stated. When the face piece 6 is resting on the calfs nose under normal pressure, the prongs support the face piece without causing the calf to receive an electric shock. When the calf raises his head and pushes his nose against the udder of the cow, the face piece pushes against the calfs nose. The pressure against the prongs makes electrical contact in the switch and gives the calf a shock on his nose. This causes the calf to draw away from the cow, and in a short time, weans him.

3 From the foregoing; the construction and operation of. the. device. will bereadily understoodand further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to? those: skilled in. the art, it: is nott desired to:

limit. thevirrventionitm the: exacttconst'rnction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable: modifications and equivalents: may be resorted to f'allingwithin the scope of theappendediclaim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

Arr: electric: shock. producing calfi' weaner comprising, in combination, an arcuate plate of a size and: shape to conformingly'fit. over and'.substantially shield the nose of:the:cal: on; which itzisrintend'ed 'to be used, said plate embodying a convex top sidezand a concave' bottom-sid'e, the; latter: adapted: for. disposition: in close spaced proximity to: the calffs'znose; az-casing:mountedzcentrally and atop the convex top of said plate, a battery, coil-,switch and prong assembly mounted in said casing and embody-ing a stationaryprong extending through the plate and beyond the concave bottom and adapted to come into contact with the nose" of the calf, and a second prong longer than the first prong and movably mounted and also extending through the plate and below the concave side in close proximity to said first prong and serving to open and close said switch:

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,072 Austin Feb. 8, 1944 2,510,337 Franklin June'6', 1950 2,602,421 Barker July 8, 1952 2,628,592 Johnston Feb. 17, 1953 2,658,478 Jones Nov. 10, 1953 

